NPPA asks stent makers, importers to submit price list by Mar 1

The national drug pricing regulator NPPA has asked manufacturers and importers of coronary stents to submit details, including price list of their products, before March 1.

The National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA), which had capped prices of coronary stents on February 13, providing huge relief to cardiac patients, also asked the manufacturers to furnish quarterly returns of production/ import and sale of coronary stents.

The regulator said manufacturers shall issue price list to the NPPA online through Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System (IPDMS) and submit a copy to all state drug regulators and all distributors, dealers and retailers.

However, as software of IPDMS for medical devices/coronary stents is under development, all manufacturers/importers/ marketers of coronary stents are requested to submit the requisite information in hard copy and also in soft version before March 1, 2017, NPPA said in a notification.

It further said "if the requisite information is not submitted within the prescribed date" necessary action will be initiated as per provisions of DPCO 2013 against the defaulters.

The regulator also said special interactive sessions will be held on February 21 to address the issues related to filing of firms in IPDMS, price compliance in respect of coronary stents and other related issues.

Providing major relief to lakhs of cardiac patients, NPPA cut prices of life-saving coronary stents by up to 85 percent by capping them at Rs 7,260 for bare metal ones and Rs 29,600 for drug eluting variety.